Practice hockey puck

ABSTRACT

A practice hockey puck to be used by a young player to learn how to pick up a hockey puck off the ice with the blade of his hockey stick. The puck is like an ordinary puck but with a lower, outer, annular portion removed, thereby moving the outer perimeter of the bottom surface of the puck inwardly from the outer perimeter of the top portion of the puck. The outer perimeter of the bottom surface acts as a pivot edge. A portion of the puck lies outside this pivot edge. Pressing on this portion with the blade of the stick allows the player to easily pivot the puck about the pivot edge onto its side starting the process of picking the puck up with the stick.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Technical Field

This invention is directed toward a hockey puck. The invention is more particularly directed toward a practice hockey puck to be used to practice picking up the puck on the blade of a hockey stick.

2. Background Art

Young boys playing hockey like to emulate the professional hockey players. They see the players picking up the puck on the blade of their stick, to hand it to the referee for example, and try to do the same but the pick-up is difficult to learn.

To normally pick up the puck, a player places the front of the blade of his stick flat on the top of the puck on the ice. He then applies pressure to one side of the puck with the edge of the blade on that side to tip the puck up on its side. From its on-side position, with the blade now positioned flat against a flat side of the puck, the blade is moved against the puck while rotating the blade up to a horizontal position. This movement lands the puck flat on top of the blade. It is difficult for a young player to get a feel for the amount of pressure to be applied, and where and how the pressure should be applied, on the puck with the stick to tilt the puck onto its side.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The practice puck of the present invention is designed to make it easier for the player to get a feel for the correct pressure point and the amount of pressure needed to tilt the puck onto its side. The puck is designed to have an overhang past the pivot edge of the puck making it much easier to tilt the puck about the pivot edge onto its side. The overhang is achieved providing the puck with a cylindrical top portion and a bottom portion that lies within the perimeter of the top portion. The bottom portion can be cylindrical and concentric within the top portion. The bottom outer edge of the lower portion forms a bottom pivot edge and the bottom outer edge of the top portion forms a top pivot edge. It will be seen that the outer part of the top portion overhangs the bottom portion. Pressing down on the outer part of the top portion of the puck with the blade of a stick readily tilts it about the bottom pivot edge on the lower portion of the puck. The puck tilts till it abuts on the top pivot edge formed by the top portion of the puck. Continued pressure on the outer part of the top portion with the blade will further tilt the puck on its top pivot edge until the puck is on its side. Once a young player has practiced with the practice puck to build a feel for the amount of, and the location of, the pressure to be applied, he can more easily and quickly learn to pick up a regular puck.

The invention is particularly directed toward a practice hockey puck having a cylindrical top portion and a bottom portion. The top portion has a top, circular surface and a top, cylindrical, side surface extending down from the outer perimeter of the top surface. The top portion is between three-eighths and five-eighths the thickness of the puck. The bottom portion has a bottom surface parallel to the top surface with the outer perimeter of the bottom surface spaced inwardly of the outer perimeter of the top surface. The bottom portion also has a bottom, side surface joining the outer perimeter of the bottom surface with the bottom edge of the top cylindrical side surface. The connection between the bottom, side surface and the top, cylindrical, side surface forms a top pivot edge for the puck while the connection between the bottom, side surface and the bottom surface forms a bottom pivot edge for the puck located below and inwardly of the top pivot edge.

DESCRIPTION OF SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a schematic view showing where pressure is applied to a regular puck to tip it onto its side;

FIG. 2 is a schematic view showing the puck moving onto its side;

FIG. 3 is a schematic view showing the on-side puck being rotated by the blade;

FIG. 4 shows the puck flat on the blade of the stick;

FIG. 5 shows a practice puck;

FIG. 6 is a schematic view showing where pressure is initially applied to the practice puck;

FIG. 7 shows the puck at a further pressure applying stage;

FIG. 8 shows the practice puck on its side;

FIG. 9 shows a modification of the practice puck;

FIG. 10 shows the puck of FIG. 9 tilted;

FIG. 11 shows another modification of the practice puck;

FIG. 12 shows a bottom view of the puck shown in FIG. 11;

FIG. 13 shows a bottom view of another modified practice puck; and

FIG. 14 shows a bottom view of yet another modified practice puck.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

In the prior art, an ordinary hockey puck 1, as shown in FIGS. 1 to 4, is a cylindrical disk three inches in diameter and one inch thick having a top circular surface 3 and a parallel bottom circular surface 5. A cylindrical side surface 7 joins the top and bottom surfaces 3, 5. To pick up the puck lying on the ice ‘I’ with his hockey stick, a player first places the front of the blade 9 of his stick flat on the top surface 3 of the of the puck. Through the handle of the stick, the player then applies pressure, as shown by the arrow ‘A’, through one side 11 of the blade 9 to the top of the puck adjacent its top edge 13 as shown in FIG. 1. The pressure is applied mainly downwardly but also slightly outwardly in a manner tending to rotate the puck about its bottom edge 15, as shown in FIG. 2, to sit on its side surface 7 with the blade 9 now vertical and still adjacent the top surface 3 of the puck as shown in FIG. 3. The blade 9 of the stick is then used to sweep the upstanding puck up while rotating the blade to a horizontal position. The puck is swept up as shown by the arrow B in FIG. 3. with pressure applied against the bottom of the puck by the edge 11. The blade 9 carries the puck to a horizontal position resting flat on the blade 9, the blade now upside down from its initial position. The sequence shown through FIGS. 1-4 occurs in one fluid motion.

The manner of applying pressure with the blade of the stick to a puck lying on the ice to rotate it upright is difficult to learn. To help a young player learn, a practice puck is provided having a construction making it easier to rotate the puck from a flat position on the ice onto its side using a hockey stick blade. The practice puck is provided with a first bottom pivot edge located inwardly of the side of the puck. The puck has an overhang outwardly of the bottom pivot edge. The overhang makes it easier to initially tilt the puck about the bottom pivot edge with the blade of the stick applying pressure to the top surface of the puck adjacent its side. This pressure is applied outwardly of the bottom pivot edge making it easy to tilt the puck. The puck is first tilted about the bottom pivot edge until a top pivot edge, provide by the overhang and located above and outwardly of the bottom pivot edge, touches the ice. The application of pressure is continued with the blade to now continue tilting the puck about the top pivot edge until the puck is upright on its side. The pressure applied is still outwardly of the top pivot edge making it easy to continue tilting the puck to an upright position.

In more detail, the practice hockey puck 101 of the present invention, as shown in FIG. 5 is in the shape of a modified cylindrical disk and has a top portion 103 and a bottom portion 105. The top portion 103 has a thickness ranging from about three-eighths to five-eighths the thickness of the puck. Preferably, the top portion is about half the thickness of the puck. The top portion 103 is cylindrical in shape and has a circular top surface 107 and a circular bottom 109. A cylindrical top side surface 111 joins the top surface 107 and the bottom 109. The bottom portion 105 has the shape of an inverted, right-truncated, cone and has a circular bottom surface 113, parallel to the top surface 107, a larger circular top 115, and an angled bottom side surface 117 joining the bottom surface 113 and the top 115 of the bottom portion 105. The top 115 of the bottom portion 105 is the same size as the bottom 109 of the top portion 103 and is integral with it. The bottom surface 113 obviously has a smaller perimeter than the perimeter of the top surface 107 and is centrally located with respect to the top surface. The bottom side surface 117 extends at an angle to the bottom surface 113 at around forty five degrees but the angle can range between thirty and sixty degrees, the lower range normally being used when the top portion is around five-eighths the thickness of the puck and the upper range normally being used when the top portion is around three-eighths the thickness of the puck.

The joint between the bottom surface 113 of the bottom portion 105 and the angled bottom side surface 117 forms a bottom pivot edge 121. The joint between the angled bottom side surface 117 and the cylindrical top side surface 111 of the top portion forms a top pivot edge 123. The angled side surface 117 forms an undercut 125 in the lower outer portion of the puck leaving an overhanging portion 127 over the undercut 125 formed by a upper, outer portion of the puck. The bottom pivot edge 121 is spaced inwardly, and downwardly, of the top pivot edge 123.

In using the practice puck 101, with the puck flat on the ice ‘I’ on the bottom surface 113 of its bottom portion 105, the player places the blade 131 of his hockey stick flat on the top surface 107 of the puck, as shown in FIG. 6 and with an edge 133 of the blade 131 presses down on the puck adjacent its side surface 111 as shown by the arrow ‘C’. The pressure is applied by the edge 133 of the blade on the overhanging portion 127 of the puck which lies outside of the bottom pivot edge 121 causing the puck to easily tilt about the bottom pivot edge 121 onto the angled surface 117 as shown in FIG. 7. In this position the puck is already half upright. Continued pressure by the edge 133 of the blade 131 on the puck adjacent its side surface 111 causes the puck to easily continue pivoting upright about the top pivot edge 123 until it rests on its side surface 111 as shown in FIG. 8. The downward pressure applied by the edge 133 of the hockey stick, as shown by the arrow ‘D’, is at or just outside the top pivot edge 123 making the puck pivot easily upright.

Once on its side surface 111, the player can then sweep the puck sideways and up with the blade of the stick as shown by the arrow ‘E’, in FIG. 8, to complete the pick-up in the same manner the regular puck is picked up as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4. After a player practices with the practice puck 101 he gets a feel for the manner in which, and where, the pressure must be applied to tilt the puck upright and he can transfer this feel to tilting a regular pick upright.

The practice puck can have different shapes to provide the undercut and overhanging portion. As shown in FIGS. 9 and 10, the practice puck 201 can have a modified cylindrical shape with a cylindrical top portion 203 and a smaller cylindrical bottom portion 205. Again, the top portion 203 has a thickness ranging between three-eighths and five-eighths the thickness of the puck but preferably around one half the thickness of the puck. The bottom portion 205 is concentric within the top portion 203. The top portion 203 has a top circular surface 207 and a bottom, annular surface 209 joined by a top, cylindrical side surface 211. The bottom portion 205 has a circular top 213 and a bottom circular surface 215 joined by a bottom side surface 216. The bottom side surface 216 comprises a cylindrical, side surface portion 217 joining the top 213 and bottom surface 215 and the annular bottom surface 209 of the top portion 203. The top 213 of the bottom portion 205 is integral with the top portion 203.

The practice puck 201 has an undercut 219 about its lower, outer portion and an overhang 221 about its upper portion over the undercut 219. The joint between the cylindrical side surface portion 217 of the bottom side surface 216, and the bottom surface 213 in the bottom portion 205 forms a bottom pivot edge 223 while the joint between the top side surface 211 and the annular surface 209 of the top portion 203, forming part of the bottom side surface 216, forms a top pivot edge 225. As with the puck 101, a blade 231 of a hockey stick is laid flat on the top 203 of the puck and pressure is applied along one edge 233 of the blade as shown by the arrow ‘F’ to tilt the puck first about the bottom pivot edge 223 until the top pivot edge 225 hits the ice I, and then about the top pivot edge 225, as shown in FIG. 10, until the puck rests on its top side surface 211. The pressure is applied on the overhang 221 outside of the bottom and top pivot edges 223, 225 to make it easy to move the puck to an upright position.

The bottom cylindrical portion 205 of the practice puck 201 could be replaced with a bottom cylindrical ring portion, as shown in FIGS. 11 and 12, to provide a practice puck 301. The puck 301 has a top cylindrical portion 303 and a bottom ring portion 305. The ring portion 305 is smaller in diameter than the top cylindrical portion 303 but concentric within it. The top cylindrical portion 303 has a top circular surface 309, a bottom circular surface 311 and a top, cylindrical side surface 313 joining the top and bottom surfaces 309, 311. The ring portion 305 has a top ring surface 325 and a bottom ring surface 327. The top ring surface 325 is integral with the bottom surface 311 of the cylindrical top portion 303. A bottom side surface 328 comprising a bottom, outer, cylindrical surface portion 329 joining top and bottom ring surfaces 325, 327, and an annular outer portion 330 of bottom surface 311, connects the outer edge of the bottom ring surface 327 with the bottom edge of the top side surface 313. A bottom, inner cylindrical surface 331 connects the inner edges of the top and bottom ring surfaces 325, 327 together. A bottom pivot edge 335, where the bottom side surface 328 joins the outer edge of the bottom ring surface 327, is provided about which the puck 301 can be initially pivoted by an edge of the blade. A top pivot edge 337, spaced above and outwardly of the bottom pivot edge 335, is provided where the top side surface 313 joins the bottom side surface 328. The puck 301 has a cylindrical undercut 341 in its lower outer portion with a cylindrical overhang 343 in its upper outer portion overhanging the undercut 341.

If desired, the ring portion 305′ could be discontinuous composed of ring segments 345 as shown in FIG. 13. A discontinuous ring portion 305″ could instead be provided with a ring of small protuberances such as small cylindrical posts 347 as shown in FIG. 14. The posts 347 project from the bottom surface 311′ of the top cylindrical portion 303′. The outer peripheral portion 349 of the posts 347 form a bottom, discontinuous, cylindrical side surface portion 329″. The bottom of the side surface portion 329″ forms the bottom pivot edge 335″ on the ring portion 305″.

It will be obvious that other shapes or forms could be provided for the bottom portion of the puck. The bottom portion could, for example, be octagonal or hexagonal in shape. The only criteria for the bottom portion is that it must be smaller than the top portion, generally centered with respect to the top portion and provide a bottom pivot edge located within the outer diameter of the cylindrical top portion of the puck. The bottom side surface (117, 216) joining the bottom surface of the bottom portion of the puck to the top cylindrical side surface of the top portion of the puck can have other shapes as well. The bottom side surface could have a curved cross-section for example, curving gradually up and out from the outer edge of the bottom surface of the bottom portion to the bottom edge of the top, cylindrical, side surface. It could also angle up and out from the outer edge of the bottom surface to the bottom surface of the top portion, and then continue outwardly to the bottom edge of the top, side surface.

If desired, the top surface of the top portion of the puck could be roughened to make it easier for the edge of the blade to grip the top surface to apply pressure to the puck to tilt it with less chance of slipping. 

1. A practice hockey puck comprising; a cylindrical top portion having a top, circular surface and a top, cylindrical, side surface extending down from the outer perimeter of the top surface, the top portion being between three-eighths and five-eighths the thickness of the puck; a bottom portion having a bottom surface parallel to the top surface with the outer perimeter of the bottom surface spaced inwardly of the outer perimeter of the top surface, and a bottom, side surface joining the outer perimeter of the bottom surface with the bottom edge of the top cylindrical side surface; the connection between the bottom, side surface and the top, cylindrical, side surface forming a top pivot edge, the connection between the bottom, side surface and the bottom surface forming a bottom pivot edge located below and inwardly of the top pivot edge.
 2. A practice hockey puck as claimed in claim 1 wherein the bottom portion is an inverted, right truncated, conical portion, the bottom of the conical portion forming the bottom surface, and the bottom side surface is an angled surface extending upwardly and outwardly from the bottom surface.
 3. A practice hockey puck as claimed in claim 2 wherein the top of the inverted conical portion has a diameter equal to the diameter of the top portion, the angled surface joining the top and bottom of the conical portion extending at an angle to the bottom surface ranging between thirty and sixty degrees.
 4. A practice hockey puck as claimed in claim 1 wherein the bottom portion is a cylindrical portion having a smaller diameter than the top portion and concentric within the top portion when viewed from the bottom; the bottom, side surface having a bottom cylindrical surface portion extending up from the bottom surface to the top portion, and an annular surface portion extending outwardly from the top of the bottom cylindrical surface portion to the bottom of the top, cylindrical surface, the annular surface being parallel to the top surface and forming part of the top portion.
 5. A practice hockey puck as claimed in claim 4 wherein the difference in diameter between the top and bottom portions is about equal to twice the height of the bottom portion.
 6. A practice hockey puck as claimed in claim 4 wherein the bottom portion is a cylindrical ring portion having a smaller diameter than the top portion and concentric within the top portion when viewed from the bottom.
 7. A practice hockey puck as claimed in claim 6 wherein the difference in diameter between the top and bottom portions is about equal to twice the height of the bottom portion.
 8. A practice hockey puck as claimed in claim 4 wherein the bottom portion is a discontinuous, cylindrical ring portion having a smaller diameter than the top portion and concentric within the top portion when viewed from the bottom.
 9. A practice hockey puck as claimed in claim 8 wherein the difference in diameter between the top and bottom portions is about equal to twice the height of the bottom portion.
 10. A practice hockey puck as claimed in claim 1 wherein the bottom portion is formed by a ring of spaced-apart posts, the outer portion of the posts touching a circle within and concentric to the top portion, the outer portion of the posts defining the outer edge of the bottom portion.
 11. A practice hockey puck as claimed in claim 9 wherein the height of the posts is about half the difference in diameter between the top and bottom portions.
 12. A practice hockey puck having a top cylindrical portion with a circular top surface, a circular bottom surface and a cylindrical side surface joining the top and bottom surfaces, a bottom portion integral with the top portion, the bottom portion comprising a set of posts arranged in a circle, the posts extending down from the bottom surface, the posts spaced inwardly from the periphery of the bottom surface, the connection of the bottom surface to the side surface forming a top pivot edge, the outer, bottom edge of the posts forming a discontinuous, bottom, pivot edge.
 13. A practice hockey puck as claimed in claim 12 wherein the top portion is three-eighths to five-eighths the thickness of the puck.
 14. A practice hockey puck as claimed in claim 13 wherein the height of the posts is about half the difference in diameter between the top and bottom portions. 